Torque converter turbine including added mass

Abstract

A torque converter turbine is provided. The torque converter turbine includes a plurality of blades, an annular bowl shaped blade supporting portion supporting the blades and a mass fixed to the blade supporting portion. A method of forming a torque converter turbine is also provided. The method includes providing a blade supporting portion of a turbine shell with mass and connecting a plurality of blades to the blade supporting portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A torque converter turbine comprising:
 a plurality of blades; 
 an annular bowl shaped blade supporting portion supporting the blades; and 
 a mass fixed to the blade supporting portion, wherein the blades each include a first tab for connecting the respective blade to the blade supporting portion, the mass including a plurality of holes, each of the first tabs passing through one of the holes in the mass. 
 
     
     
       2. The torque converter turbine as recited in  claim 1  wherein the blade supporting portion consists of a radially inner section and a radially outer section, the mass being fixed to the radially outer section. 
     
     
       3. The torque converter turbine as recited in  claim 2  wherein the mass has an annular shape that contours to the shape of the radially outer section of the blade supporting portion. 
     
     
       4. The torque converter turbine as recited in  claim 1  wherein the blade supporting portion includes a plurality of first and second holes formed therein, each of the blades including at least one second tab, each of the first tabs passing through one of the first holes in the blade supporting portion, each of the second tabs passing through one of the second holes in the blade supporting portion. 
     
     
       5. The torque converter turbine as recited in  claim 4  wherein the first tabs are longer than the second tabs. 
     
     
       6. The torque converter turbine as recited in  claim 1  wherein the mass is formed as a piece separate from the blade supporting portion. 
     
     
       7. The torque converter turbine as recited in  claim 6  wherein the separate piece of the mass is fixed to the blade supporting portion by the tabs of the blades and a braze material. 
     
     
       8. The torque converter turbine as recited in  claim 1  wherein the mass is formed integrally with the blade supporting portion as a single piece. 
     
     
       9. The torque converter turbine as recited in  claim 8  wherein the mass contacts an engine side surface of the blade supporting portion. 
     
     
       10. The torque converter turbine as recited in  claim 9  wherein the mass is folded back onto the engine side surface of the blade supporting portion such that the mass merges with the blade supporting portion at a U-shaped bend. 
     
     
       11. The torque converter turbine as recited in  claim 1  wherein the mass is fixed against a transmission side surface of the blade supporting portion. 
     
     
       12. The torque converter turbine as recited in  claim 11  wherein a radially outer section of the blade supporting portion, at a radially inner end thereof, juts away from the blades to provide a gap between the blades and a transmission side surface of the radially outer section, the mass being positioned in the gap. 
     
     
       13. The torque converter turbine as recited in  claim 1  wherein the mass includes an outer radial protrusion extending radially outside of the blade supporting portion. 
     
     
       14. A torque converter comprising the torque converter turbine as recited in  claim 1 . 
     
     
       15. A method of forming a torque converter turbine comprising:
 providing an annular bowl shaped blade supporting portion of a turbine shell with a mass on a transmission side or an engine side of the annular bowl shaped portion; and 
 connecting a plurality of blades to the blade supporting portion, wherein the connecting the plurality of blades to the blade supporting portion includes contacting the mass with the each of the blades. 
 
     
     
       16. The method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the mass includes a plurality of holes and each of the blades includes a first tab, the connecting the plurality of blades to the blade supporting portion includes inserting each of the first tabs through a respective one of the holes of the mass. 
     
     
       17. The method as recited in  claim 16  wherein the contacting the mass with the each of the blades includes bending the first tabs against an engine side surface of the mass. 
     
     
       18. The method as recited in  claim 16  wherein the blade supporting portion includes a plurality of holes formed therein, each of the blades including at least one second tab, the connecting the plurality of blades to the blade supporting portion includes inserting each of the first tabs and the second tabs through a respective one of the holes of the blade supporting portion. 
     
     
       19. The method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the contacting the mass with the each of the blades includes pressing an engine side surface of each of the blades flush against a transmission side surface of the mass. 
     
     
       20. A torque converter turbine comprising:
 a plurality of blades; 
 an annular bowl shaped blade supporting portion supporting the blades; and 
 a mass fixed to the blade supporting portion, the mass being formed integrally with the blade supporting portion as a single piece, the mass being folded back onto a surface of the blade supporting portion such that the mass merges with the blade supporting portion at a U-shaped bend.